Governor Scott Moves to Ban All Passenger Rail From State

Amtrak Auto Train

Governor Scott today announced a three-part plan that will eventually rid the state of Florida of all passenger rail service which Scott termed “an outmoded 20^th Century concept that should be abandoned just like the horse and buggy.”

Scott’s initiative will:

1. Cease all work and cancel all contracts on the SunRail commuter train.  Monies in escrow for the purchase of the right of way from CSX will be withdrawn and returned to FDOT to be used for more and bigger roads and highways which Scott termed “the mode of travel for tomorrow’s Florida”.  Scott’s goal is to pave over 50% of the state by the year 2050.  “50 by 50” is his new transportation campaign slogan.  “Floridians should have the freedom to drive wherever they want.  Paving over a significant portion of the state will go a long way toward that goal and put people back to work”, said Scott.
2. Shut down the Tri-rail commuter train now operating in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.  Scott termed this action “long overdue since this has been a money losing proposition from the start”.  Scott has proposed adding two additional lanes each direction to I-95 through the three counties to give residents, tourists and commuters “more than ample highway trip capacity” for the transportation corridor.  “This will save the taxpayer’s tens of thousands of dollars every year”, Scott said.
3. Submit proposed legislation to the Florida House and Senate to ban Amtrak from the state and request Florida’s share of Amtrak subsidies be returned to the state for highway construction.  “Amtrak is another money loser that does nothing for Florida’s job growth.”  Amtrak boardings increased 8.9% last year to 1.08 million passengers.  But Scott termed this performance “unacceptably low when compared to growth in SUV and pickup trips which continue to grow in double digits.  Besides, Amtrak poses too much of a risk to Florida citizens since motorists are struck by trains all too often”.  Scott added, “Getting rid of the frequent Amtrak trains will facilitate travel on our streets and highways since Florida taxpayers won’t have to stop to let the trains pass.  In addition we can reclaim the rail right of ways for more highways.”

After making the passenger rail announcement, Scott gave some insight into future plans: “Our long-term goal will be to eliminate rail from the state entirely.  Moving freight by truck will create more jobs.  No more locomotives belching diesel smoke or long freight trains delaying motorists at crossings.” Scott said.  “Rail has a long history of being at the government feeding trough”, he stated.  “Right from the very start when the railroads accepted large land grants to build rails into the plains states they’ve received government subsidies.  It’s time we ended this largesse and get the government out of the rail business.”

Scott’s also made this comment regarding buses:  “We’re looking closely at bus transit.  There isn’t a transit system in the state that isn’t sucking up the taxpayer’s money.  We should find ways to make them profitable or shut them down.  The money that goes into keeping these losers alive could be used to build more roads and put people to work.”

Scott made his announcement and comments to an enthusiastic crowd of Tea Party supporters during a rally in Starke, Florida.  As he departed for his private jet to return to Tallahassee the crowd chanted:

No more rail
No more pain
No more sittin’
Waitin’ on the train